USA TODAY International Edition
Event could be Final Four preview
Four of college basketball’s blue bloods — Kentucky, Michigan State, Duke and Kansas — will share one court today as part of the Champions Classic doubleheader in Chicago. The name of the event is fitting for teams that have combined for 17 national championships.
But this year’s Champions Classic differs slightly from years past and years future: It features a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup followed by No. 4 vs. No. 6. Eight of the top 10 recruits of ESPN’s class of 2013 rankings will take the court as a part of the mosthyped freshman class in recent years. A few of them likely will be national player of the year contenders.
Many expect tonight to double as a preview of sorts for April’s Final Four.
“It’s possible the collection of teams is even better than most Final Fours,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.
He’s right. The NCAA tournament format does not necessarily result in the four most powerful teams playing in the Final Four; that’s part of the appeal of March Madness. There are midmajor surprises and shocking upsets that often prevent it. Only once, in 2008, has the Final Four been pop- ulated by four No. 1 seeds. So although the four teams playing today could all be in the running for No. 1 seeds come March, it’s no guarantee they’ll all survive the gantlet of the NCAA tournament and end up in Arlington, Texas.
Still, Kentucky vs. Michigan State and Duke vs. Kansas feel like heavyweight bouts five days into the regular season.
Freshman forward Jabari Parker leads Duke against Kansas, which is led by freshman Andrew Wiggins. Parker and Wiggins have been hailed as “the best player since LeBron James.”
The Wildcats have the most highly touted freshman class since the Fab Five, and they’re facing a veteran, experienced Michigan State team, setting up a matchup of opposites.
Izzo and Kentucky coach John Calipari have engaged in a playful war of words leading up to the game, with Calipari saying it’s not fair for his youngsters to play an experienced team. Izzo followed that up by asking Calipari to forfeit and give his Spartans a win if he really thought that way.
Between the pregame jabs and the star power on display, it might be the most hyped — and the best — night of college basketball’s regular season.
“Coach doesn’t think we’re ready, but we’ll be all right,” Kentucky freshman power forward Julius Randle said. “He’s just trying to challenge us and make us stronger as a unit. But we believe we’re ready.”